Bulldogs enjoy maximum return against Nottingham Lions and Altrincham Aces

WINNERS: Bulldogs’ players celebrate after their late win at home to Altrincham Aces. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography

ANDY BROWN’S confidence in his Bradford Bulldogs’ team’s ability to get the job done was borne out when they came from behind to clinch a thrilling win over Altrincham Aces and seal a welcome four-point weekend. 

The game looked to be heading to overtime after the visitors levelled through former Bulldogs’ forward Malachi Budd with just over two minutes to go.

But Josh Stockton hadn’t quite finished for the day, driving into the Aces zone down the left and, after throwing the puck on net, being quickest to react to the rebound and fire into the top left-hand corner of Michael Rogers’ net to seal a third period hat-trick. 

It was the completion of an impressive turnaround, the Bulldogs finding themselves 3-1 and 4-2 adrift at different points of the game.

Coming on top of a 6-3 road win over Nottingham Lions 2 on the Saturday, it proved a profitable weekend for the Bulldogs and, according to their head coach, fully deserved. 

BIG DAY: Ollie Massey score his first seniors goal in the 27th minute to make it 3-2. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography.

“It was a great weekend, I felt we performed well in both games and deserved all four points. 

“On Saturday, we controlled most of the game. We took a few too many penalties but other than that it was a solid performance.

“But we weren’t clinical in front of net for the first two periods against Altrincham and found ourselves trailing going into the thirrd. 

“Again, though, I felt we were playing the better hockey and was still confident we could turn it round - and we did just that.” 

The Aces had carried a 2-1 lead into the first period break, Carl Price’s 15th-minute opener being cancelled out by Connor Medley’s power play reply at 17.41 before Grace Garbett restored the visitors’ lead just 22 seconds later.

Romeo Nixon doubled the lead in the 25th minute but again the Bulldogs were quick to respond, this time with a memorable piledriver from Ollie Massey into the top left-hand corner for his first seniors goal at 26.44.

Corey Lee found a way past Jake Lowndes to make it 4-2 at 35.23 but the Bulldogs refused to go away, making it a one-goal game again when Mikey Speare broke down the right and his shot cannoned back off Rogers straight to Lucas Vince who fired the rebound home at 37.33. 

UNDER PRESSURE: Connor Medley fires on the Altrincham net. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography

The Bulldogs pulled themselves level for a second time in the game when they were shorthanded, Stockton quickly pouncing on some lax defending by the Aces to fire home into an empty net at 45.43.

Just under six minutes later, the hosts were ahead for the first time in the game, this time on the power play, when Medley chased the puck into the right corner before firing it to Stockton who fired home from close range. 

Bradford were guilty of some poor defending of their own when they let former team-mate Budd beat Lowndes from close-range at 57.42. 

Overtime beckoned until Stockton struck for a third and final time.

In Nottingham on Saturday, the Bulldogs fell behind to a Jake Fisher strike before Declan Kime levelled at 4.43.

END GAME: Bradford Bulldogs, pictured after their win against Altrincham. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography.

The second period saw the Bulldogs go ahead through Medley just 43 seconds in, with Edward Harley levelling for the hosts just after the halfway point. 

Stockton made it 3-2 at 35.44 before the Bulldogs took a two-goal lead into the second intermission when Medley doubled his tally at 38.01.

Lucas Vince made it 5-2 early in the second and after Fisher got his second of the game for the hosts, Stockton ensured the points came home to Bradford with a short-handed effort in the 58th minute.